CHANDIGARH, March 24: A new report from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources has flagged significant chemical contamination in the drinking water supplies of 401 villages in Punjab. The document, covering the 2025-26 period, asserted that toxic metals like selenium, cadmium, and uranium are prevalent in several districts, placing the state among the most critically affected regions in India for water safety.
The committee maintained that the situation in districts such as Fazilka, Ferozepur, Moga, and Patiala is particularly concerning due to the presence of multiple heavy metals. It stated that the consumption of such contaminated groundwater leads to both immediate and long-term health crises for residents. The panel affirmed that the current state of groundwater in these areas is a growing threat that requires the government to establish alternative water sources immediately.
Legislators declared that the state must improve its water quality monitoring systems to detect pollutants before they reach households. The report noted that while some areas deal with uranium and mercury, others like Rupnagar and Fatehgarh Sahib are facing high nitrate levels. The committee declared that a systematic and transparent testing framework is essential to manage the chemical contamination levels effectively across the state.
The findings stated that Punjab follows only Tripura, Assam, and Rajasthan in the severity of its drinking water contamination. Members of the panel affirmed that the health of rural citizens is at stake, and they maintained that the Ministry of Jal Shakti should implement an action plan with stipulated timelines. The committee asserted that providing safe alternatives to contaminated groundwater is a mandatory step in addressing this environmental and health emergency.
